By Joe Carbonari
Turkey shot down the Russian jet because Vladimir Putin was pushing the envelope. Russia’s bombing near the Turkish border was killing fighters that Turkey was backing against the Syrian government. Additionally, it was taking place in a border area inhabited by Turkish men, most of whom are Sunni Muslims, many with friends and relatives across the border. Men, women, and children were collateral damage; their homes and lives, as well. The air provocation provided a way to react; they shot it down.
Nobody wants war, but Putin has to be met with resistance. He continues to expand the territory and influence of Russia by bullying and violence. Crimea and Ukraine are just across the Black Sea from Turkey. Crimea especially, has strong historical and ethnic ties to Turkey. Russia now increases the threat to Turkey from both the north and the south. The piece of Syria that Putin is carving out will leave Russia with both a secure naval base and now an air base on the Mediterranean, in the midst of the Arab world, all but on the Turkish border. Turkey said stop.
Putin needs to give it a rest, and the Turks need to show restraint. Escalation is unacceptable. Instead, we need to stop the bombing of Syria’s people by its own “government,” and to establish a safe haven for refugees, in Syria. Wil Russia cooperate? Will Putin play the good guy? I hope so.
By Tim Baldwin
Once Vladimir Putin began fighting ISIS, Turkey attacked Russia by shooting down their jet and pilot flying near Turkey. Russia claims Turkey never gave warning and Russia’s jet was not over Turkey’s air space but flying over a part of Syria controlled by the most radical armed groups with over 1000 militants. Turkey claims otherwise and plays the victim. What is going on?
Foreign jets commonly fly into or near the airspace of other countries. Ironically, in 2012, Syria shot down a Turkey jet as it flew over Syria’s border. When that happened, Turkish president said, “a short-term border violation can never be a pretext for an attack.” Indeed, rules of diplomacy require less drastic responses to a slight border violation obviously not intended to attack the nation. NATO condemned Syria’s attack in 2012, yet supports Turkey’s attack.
Russia is now preparing militarily against Turkey since Russia believes Turkey is aiding ISIS. As a NATO member, the U.S. could be obligated by treaty to protect Turkey if it declares Russia has attacked it. Marco Rubio claims that America must protect Turkey from Russia. Conversely, Rand Paul cautions for restraint and diplomacy.
If the likes of Rubio gets elected, will that president want to start WWIII (inevitably a nuclear war) with Russia over this incident with Turkey – a suspected aider and abettor of ISIS? I hope not.